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"Wine is made from grapes alone." This is what most people believe, yet contrary to this assumption, some wine back labels include listings of additives. There are several types of additives, with antioxidants and stabilizers being among the most well-kno ...

Masato Nagasawa (Nagi) Winemaker / Viticulturist / Oenologist A winemaker with an unconventional background who first properly learned about wine after arriving in Germany. His catchphrase is "Wine is, after all, just alcohol and merely one of many luxury ...

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When storing wine, there's probably one question that everyone has wondered about at least once: how should the bottle be positioned? Should wine bottles be stored horizontally, or should they not be stored vertically? A quick search reveals many explanat ...

Have you ever encountered a red wine that tasted oddly flat yet somehow spicy, with aromas reminiscent of dust, mold, or sulfur compounds? Such wines may have been affected by film-forming yeasts during their aging period. While the term "film-forming yea ...

Grape berries undergo sunburn phenomena similar to human skin. This phenomenon introduces burnt-like flavors into wine, particularly affecting the quality of white wines where delicate aromas are crucial. Sunburned berries must be sorted and removed durin ...

With the arrival of summer, grapevines in vineyards continue their growth cycle. Currently, vineyard operations are proceeding simultaneously with lateral shoot removal, leaf removal, and shoot tip cutting. During this period, Germany experienced two days ...

There is one disease that grape growers particularly fear during rainy years: downy mildew. Whether dealing with wine grapes or any other cultivated plants, the battle against diseases is unavoidable. Vineyards encounter various diseases, but the most pro ...

Are you familiar with the term "petri notes"? This is a specialized term frequently used in wine tasting, particularly when evaluating aged Riesling wines. Experienced tasters can sometimes identify a wine's grape variety as Riesling the moment they detec ...

You open a bottle of wine you've been looking forward to and pour it into your glass. As you bring your nose close to enjoy the aromatic bouquet rising from the wine, something seems off. Many of you have probably had this experience. Wine that produces u ...

A chemical reaction known as the Maillard reaction exists. This reaction is also called the amino-carbonyl reaction. The browning of meat when grilled, the appetizing golden color of baked cookies or toast, and the appealing color of fish teriyaki glazed ...

One of the most critical factors in winemaking is pH. Many people may recall learning about pH in middle school science or high school chemistry classes. However, understanding how pH relates to wine can be challenging. When researching the relationship b ...

Once bottled and shipped from wineries, wines are influenced by various environmental factors that alter their taste. We describe these taste changes as aging or deterioration. When we think of wine aging or deterioration, oxidation and heat damage are li ...

Overview In our previous article "Is Orange Wine Natural Wine?", we explored the definition, origins, and relationship between orange wine and natural wine. This article provides a detailed examination of orange wine from a winemaking perspective. This ar ...

In modern winemaking, yeast selection technology continues to evolve constantly. A recurring phenomenon is observed where specific yeasts gain attention due to outstanding performance in competitions or industry recommendations, leading to rapid expansion ...

Food should be hygienic. This seems like a given for those of us living in the modern era. However, Japan's Food Sanitation Law was actually enacted in 1948, just 75 years ago. In 2018, this law was partially revised, making it mandatory for all food busi ...

Many people who study wine have encountered the term "VA" at some point. Initially, the meaning of this abbreviation may not be immediately clear. VA stands for Volatile Acid, which translates to "volatile acidity" in Japanese. More precisely, volatile ac ...

The role of microorganisms in winemaking has been extensively studied throughout its history. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has long been the focus of attention as the primary agent of alcoholic fermentation, has become indispensable in modern winemakin ...

The terms "sulfur dioxide" or "sulfites" have become something of a dreaded unhealthy buzzword in Japan's wine industry today, treated with the same revulsion as a venomous snake. Meanwhile, sulfur dioxide-free wines—those made without adding these antiox ...

There is a wine defect that is currently attracting attention. It is smoke taint. Smoke taint is a defect that occurs when grapes are exposed to smoke. In tasting, it is described with nuances such as "smoky," "burnt rubber," "bacon," "disinfectant," and ...

What constitutes the world's finest wine? Would it be the red wines of Bordeaux or Burgundy? The cult wines centered in America? The beloved Champagne? Or perhaps the trendy natural wines of today? In Germany, the legally classified highest-grade wine is ...